In the next release of Windows Intune, Microsoft will expand management and security benefits to cover mobile devices and add people centric management capabilities.

The announcement was made today at the Microsoft Management Summit by Brad Anderson, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft?s Management and Security Division.

Windows Intune is Microsoft's cloud-based management solution that provides tools, reports and an upgrade license to the latest version of Windows to help keep organizations' PCs up-to-date from anywhere.

The next release of Windows Intune will integrate with Windows Server Active Directory and Microsoft Exchange Server, allowing IT to manage the many devices brought into the workplace, even if they're not owned by the organization. IT will also be able to use Windows Intune to set security policies for mobile devices and enforce password protection, encryption and even kick off a remote wipe if a device is compromised. Windows Intune's mobile device management will support any device with Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync capabilities, including Windows Phone, iOS and Android.

Like Office 365, the next release will offer the ability to manage user accounts with accounts created in the Windows Azure Active Directory, so that IT can provide users with software personalized to their role. IT will also be able to link onsite Windows Server Active Directory to the Windows Azure Active Directory service so that user accounts and security groups can be synchronized with Windows Intune, allowing IT to easily manage users and devices.

Windows Intune will also offer a self-service, customizable Company Portal that is simple to create and will allow IT to provide employees with the apps and tools they need. IT can target the portal to user profiles and employees can access it through a range of mobile devices including Windows PCs, iOS and Android devices. This enables IT to post apps that users might want to use, rather than push out to their PCs. When a user arrives at the portal they will see all of the available apps ready for download. As with previous releases, the next release of Windows Intune will include upgrade rights to the latest version of Windows as part of a monthly subscription. The price of Windows Intune will remain the same at $11 USD per PC, per month, even though Microsoft is adding the ability to also manage up to four mobile devices per seat.